11Nov

Kiulu Adventure Challenge returns Dec 4 with RM18k prize purse

Kota Kinabalu: A total prize money of RM18,000 awaits the winners in the 2nd Kiulu Adventure Challenge (KAC) which is set to take place on December 4. The race which involves running (15km), cycling (30km) and rafting down the famed Kiulu river (7km) is organised by the Kiulu Tourism Association (KTA) and supported by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and Tourism Malaysia ™. STB Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai who initiated the race a year ago said in a press conference on Thursday that the main objective for the event is to promote Kiulu as a recreation and adventure destination. "Our main purpose is to introduce Kiulu as an eco-tourism destination and with that the participants of the event will get the chance to witness some beautiful scenery in the area. "It is also going to be tough as the name suggests and those adventure enthusiasts who love the challenge are encouraged to participate." The event will be divided into several categories with men and women for the running event; men, women and veterans as well as juniors aged 13-18 for the cycling event while the team category are for three men plus a woman or three men plus one man veteran. Joniston said the addition of the Boys and Girls category is taking into account the growing popularity of such adventure races among the young. "The introduction of the Boys and Girls category is in line with our objective to promote Kiulu as a recreation and adventure destination for families. "Participants and visitors will also have the chance to win lucky draw prizes such as airtickets, electrical goods, hotel accommodation and sports gear. Furthermore, there would be various activities, such as traditional games with attractive prizes to be won, sampling of Kiulu's traditional food and drinks and display of authentic local handicrafts, for family members and the public at the Adventure Centre," he added. The race will start and end at the Adventure Centre at Kg Rangalau Lama, Kiulu and participants will receive a T-shirt and certificate, and a medal for those who complete the race within the stipulated time. Meanwhile, KAC chairman Octavius Usman said the event is one of the association's initiatives to promote eco-adventure tourism in support of STB's concerted effort to promote rural tourism as a new and viable source of income for the rural community as well as to create awareness on the importance of conserving the pristine Kiulu River. "At the advice of the Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkui, who is also KTA's adviser, we have been working very closely with the local community, through the Kampung Development and Security Committee (JKKK), to provide knowledge and guidance to improve their standard of living by engaging in tourism activities," Octavius said. "In the long run, we aim to make Kiulu, which is only about an hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, as a renowned adventure hub offering a variety of activities to adventure and nature lovers," he added. The KAC will begin with a 15km run along the Kiulu valley, before a bumpy bike ride on the banks of the Kiulu River and ends with a refreshing raft ride down the river. Octavius said considering the encouraging response and to accommodate as many participants as possible, registration would be opened until the very last minute. Those interested to participate could contact Suslisa at 019-8515431, Ahmadul Tahir (Race director) at 019-8511225 or Authet J Kimon (Event director) at 013-8860080. Source: Daily Express
By Inside KePKAS, , Comments Off
Read more...
04Nov

Record number of vehicles for 26th Borneo Safari

KOTA KINABALU: A record-breaking number of 357 four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles and 987 participants are taking part in the 26th Borneo Safari International Offroad Challenge which was flagged off here yesterday. Event director Faez Nordin said a 350 target was set this year but an exception was made for seven vehicles only for one of the most challenging expeditions in the Borneo Safari history whilst more applications had to be rejected due to the set limit. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun flagged off the eight-day and seven-night expedition at the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) building on Gaya Street where the 4WDs will drive 680km through the Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Ranau, Kota Marudu and Kota Belud districts. “The logging road has been abandoned for 20 years, I think. A lot of landslides, broken bridges and as you know right now in Ranau and Marudu, it’s raining a lot. “It will be more challenging because there are more participants ever. Last year only 318 vehicles,” said Faez, adding a majority of the participants are Malaysians and the international participants hailed from Brunei, Indonesia, China, Japan, Thailand, Ireland and Portugal. “There are a lot of newcomers, and we have more than 20 vehicles from Indonesia. Last year, there were only two from there. We also have a lot from Semenanjung as well as Kuching, Sarawak. There are 42 from Brunei so it is good for our tourism,” he added. Faez said the annual event, which started in 1990, is the ‘new year’ for 4WD adventure enthusiasts and reckoned a 380 target would most likely be achievable in 2017 based on the overwhelming response of this year’s Borneo Safari. “We set a limit of 350 cars but people were still registering. But we had to reject the applications which were still coming in one week before the event. We had no choice because we have to limit the number of participants. So next year maybe we will set up a big quota for 380 vehicles only for example,” added the event director whilst recalling that the 2014 limit was 300 only but an exception of 18 vehicles was made due to encouraging response. “We hope through this event the people will continue to enjoy our environment. Through this event, participants will go through the jungle from the Forestry Department and Sabah Parks, where ordinary people are not really permitted to enter so they can see the environment, flora and also the wild animals,” said Faez. The event is organized by the Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association with STB and mainly supported by its Diamond Sponsor Isuzu and Platinum Sponsor UMW GRANTT, as the main vehicle oil lubricant. Source: Borneo Post
By Inside KePKAS, Comments Off
Read more...
04Nov

Boosting tourism attractions for ‘timid’ travellers – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism attractions in West Coast Sabah will be boosted to cater for the ‘timid’ travelers in the state. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said many were confused and were forgetful of the fact that Sabah encompassed 22 per cent of Malaysia’s total geographical area. When unfortunate events happened in East Cost Sabah like Sandakan and Tawau, which is some 40 to 50 minutes away by flight from Kota Kinabalu, it is likened to an event happening between the span of Perlis and Johor state, he pointed out. “Through my observation, currently tourism industry investors have a tendency to be in the West Coast because we actually have the attractions, beaches that are more beautiful in Kudat, Kota Belud, Kuala Penyu and so on,” said Masidi when officiating the Borneo Safari Sabah International Offroad Challenge at the Sabah Tourism Board building on Gaya Street here yesterday. “What we are building or developing now is the choice for the ‘timid’ who are afraid to go to the East Coast, so they have goals and still feel fortunate to come to Sabah because there are attractions available on the West Coast. “But remember, in spite of all the hyped safety issues, resorts in Semporna islands are still full. So for me, that is actually a manifestation of the true position. If the resorts are full on the East Coast, it means people who come haven’t the slightest doubt about the safety level over there,” the minister emphasized. Masidi reiterated the people have to accept the reality that no nation can give a 100% guarantee of the safety of its respective countries and that shootings still happen in the safe America, France and Belgium, for example. “Sabah has never stated that it is safe. We are safe but from time to time, indeed, incidents that are beyond our control happens,” he said. “So if I can deduce, Sabah is safe to the extent of the term ‘within our control’,” concluded the minister.
 Source: Borneo Post
By Inside KePKAS, , Comments Off
Read more...
04Nov

Districts in Sabah urged to hold activities to promote tourism

TAMBUNAN: The Sabah government welcomes efforts from all districts to generate or organise various activities that can attract tourists to their respective areas, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman (pix). He said the state government also encouraged any support offered towards the materialisation of such activities. "With the availability of such attractions, tourists will come and in return will benefit the locals, especially the traders, hotel operators, restaurants and public transport. "The tourists can provide them (entrepreneurs/businessmen) with income and revenue ... this is what can be done to help improve the economy of the people," he told reporters after visiting the Tambunan Orphanage, here today. Thus, Musa expressed hope that all district officers in the state can play a role in carrying out initiatives to generate activities that could attract tourists. Commenting on his visit, he said the main aim of his visit was to personally observe renovations carried out at the orphanage. "The orphanage needed repairs and I am glad that with the completion of the repairs the occupants there can stay in comfort," he said. Also present during the visit were Tambunan district officer Thomas Logijin and patron of the orphanage, Rahim Yahya Abd Rahman. — Bernama Source: The Sun Daily
By Inside KePKAS, , Comments Off
Read more...